Thinking aloud

Hmm, it has been quite a long time since I manage to sneak some time to do alternative things and I am so glad that I am doing this now! It is certainly a break from the daily humdrum of class, grading and administrative matters which I refuse to burden myself with (given that I am already doing horrendous OT over weekends and evenings just to grade)!

Today I swapped a class and took over VL's. It was quite fun, as I have stepped into her class once to administer an Understanding Test and the kids had a quick glimpse of how casual (and fun-ny?) I am. However the class was very concerned about grades and I suspected that they treated me nicely because of that. Oh well, I guess I can allow them the grades they deserve and see their impressions of me... sigh the harshness of reality!

We just ended another term in PYAESS (so fast 10 weeks and another $230.. sigh). While I was contemplating stopping for a term (since work is so crazy), I just realised I might not be able to get a place again if I were to skip a term. Oh well I guess I just have to continue, though I am asking myself how much am I actually learning since I only have classes once a week. Then again, if I do not have classes, will I have the motivation to even spend a few hours each week on the language!

I am looking forward to mastering the language and exploring options that it brings, such as working-wise, study-wise amongst others. I am still hoping to spend a couple of years (2 years sound ideal) in Japan and exploring the culture there.

I am quite involved with Toastmasters and although I like the people there, I shun the work though it keeps coming. Argh!